Rock of Ages

Phew! I’ve just returned home completely exhausted, and I was only a member of the audience. The cast put in so much energy to this production of Rock of Ages that everyone in the theatre must have gone home feeling so good and ‘buzzing’ after a night out watching Lichfield Operatic Society.

Rock of Ages is a jukebox musical built around classic rock songs from the 1980s. The songs of Journey, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and other artists underscore a tale of big dreams in Hollywood. Soon after hopping off a bus from the Midwest, aspiring singer Sherrie Christian immediately finds herself in trouble. Coming to her rescue is Drew, a bar-back at the legendary club the Bourbon Room. With stars in their eyes, the young lovers chase their dreams, but a misunderstanding involving rock god Stacee Jaxx threatens to tear them apart.

We were soon made to feel part of this production, thanks to the effervescent narrator, Lonny Barnett, played by James Pugh.  James had a natural rapport with the audience, involving those ‘fortunate’ to be sitting close to the stage. Along with this, his delivery and comedic dialogue never missed a beat, put this together with a confident singing voice then you had a very commendable performance. Lewis Collier-Smith was making his debut with LOS, but it was clear that he was no stranger to the stage. His vocal performance was outstanding, and he looked at ease playing the would-be rock star. Shannon Robinson as Sherrie Christian, was someone else who looked so at ease on stage, she had a commanding presence and delivered her songs with such accuracy. Connor Brooks played Dennis Dupree, another assured performance, both vocally and owning the stage whenever he appeared. Stacee Jaxx was played by another debutant with LOS, Adam Merrall, however, he is no stranger to the stage. Adam played the part with confidence and gave a powerful performance vocally. There were so many outstanding performances in this show, Vanessa Blake as Justice Charlier was a really strong character as was Mariah Loizou as Regina Koontz, both bringing a different side to the performance. Will Lock and Patrick Jervis as father and son Hertz and Franz Klinemann were really convincing and bounced off each other with great affect. I could not fault the vocals of everyone involved in this show, the 80’s rock anthems are so demanding but each and everyone of you delivered without faltering.

The named characters were supported by an extremely competent ensemble, both visually and vocally, no-one was out of place. Everyone of them portrayed their own individual character and I felt that I knew everyone’s back story. The choreography was outstanding, congratulations to Charlotte Jervis for her vision and innovative routines. They were accompanied by a very accomplished band, under the direction of David Easto, nothing was over-powering and gave great support to the vocals.

I must mention the lighting plot by Stephen Rainsford; the effects were outstanding and were a great addition to the staging of this production. 

Finally, a very big congratulations to Emma Hill who directed the show. It really was a first-class production and one that everyone involved with it should be proud of.

John Nicholls – Regional Representative

Having seen Lichfield Operatic Society earlier in the year, I attended Rock of Ages with high expectations—and I was not disappointed. If there were any questions about whether the success of Anything Goes was a one-off for LOS, they were swiftly answered. This production was nothing short of remarkable.

John, as the regional representative has captured the sheer energy of this show from the opening number to the final curtain, involving the entire cast—whether playing a principal role or part of the ensemble. The casting was spot-on, with no weak links. Every character was totally believable, and the chemistry between cast members was evident throughout the performance.

What stood out, beyond the undeniable energy, was the choreography. This was outstanding. It was sharp, well-rehearsed, and full of personality.

Costumes and wigs were perfectly suited to the era and individual characters, helping to further establish the setting and tone. There were smooth transitions between scenes, and the lighting design was well plotted, adding impact and atmosphere to the overall performance.

A heartfelt thank you to LOS for the kind invitation. I look forward with great anticipation to future productions.

Andy Brown, Regional Councillor, NODA West Midlands

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